Home Cowles Library Harkin Institute, Drake University Archives to celebrate ADA legislation’s 25th anniversary

Harkin Institute, Drake University Archives to celebrate ADA legislation’s 25th anniversary

President Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990.
President Bush signs the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990.

The Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement at Drake University and the Drake University Archives and Special Collections will publicly unveil Former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin’s Americans with Disabilities Act congressional files and materials on the 25th anniversary of the signing of Harkin’s signature piece of legislation. 

The unveiling, archives tour, and open house will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, July 26 in the Drake University Archives, Cowles Library, 2725 University Ave. A brief program at 3 p.m. will include video messages from notable Americans involved with the passage of the ADA and a live message from Former Senator Harkin, who authored the ADA and was its chief sponsor in the United States Senate. Drake University President Earl F. “Marty” Martin will attend the event. 

Attendees can be among the first individuals to examine the history of the ADA through photographs, the Senator’s background memos, personal notes, and other unique artifacts contained in his congressional files. Light refreshments will be served and include a replica of the original cake served at the 1990 signing. Former Senator Harkin announced in summer 2013 that he would transfer historical papers and materials to a new Thomas R. Harkin Collection in the Drake University Archives following the conclusion of his 40-year congressional career, which ended in January.

The event is free, but tickets are required. Visit https://wwww.drake.edu/harkininstitute/ for more information and to RSVP. 

For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations, contact The Harkin Institute at 515-271-3623.